Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Claims that the Israeli occupation has withdrawn from areas in the neighborhoods of al-Zaytoun, al-Tuffah, and al-Shujaiya are false
Hamas: The two delegations stressed that any negotiations must lead to the achievement of our people's goals and aspirations, foremost among which is ending the war and the complete withdrawal of enemy forces

MI5 failures in preventing 2017 Manchester bombing exposed: Probe

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 2 Mar 2023 19:18
3 Min Read

The investigation concludes that the UK's spy agency failed to act on a vital piece of intel that could have stopped the 2017 attack that targeted an Ariana Grande concert.

  • x
  • MI5 neglected intel that could have prevented 2017 Manchester bombing
    People place flowers and candles at a tribute to victims of the bombing in Manchester city center on May 23, 2017. (AFP)

Britian's MI5 did not take action on vital intel that could have prevented the Manchester bombing that killed 22 people attending an Ariana Grande concert in 2017, an official investigation concluded on Thursday.

The MI5's delay in following up on one of two intel findings resulted in the "missing of an opportunity to take a potentially important investigative action," said the head of the investigation on the case and retired high court judge John Saunders in a report.

The fatal attack, which targeted crowds leaving the event at the Manchester Arena in northern England, was carried out by 22-year-old Salman Abedi from Manchester, inspired by the Islamic State terrorist group.

Read more: ISIS terrorist attack kills 53 civilians in disaster-struck Syria

"Based on everything the (MI5) Security Service knew or should have known, I am satisfied that such an investigative action would have been a proportionate and justified step to take," said Saunders in his third and final report on the attack.

"This should have happened," he added, referring to taking action on one of the two pieces of intel.

While the attack killed parents that were there to pick up their children, the youngest casualty was an eight-year-old.

Related News

UK's growing Sinophobia pushes restrictions on academic institutions

NSO's Pegasus prompts Apple to develop Lockdown Mode: Report

"Although I accept that Salman Abedi demonstrated some security consciousness and that this might have affected the efficacy of the investigative action that I have identified, there was the real possibility that it would have produced actionable intelligence."

The spy agency's chief Ken McCallum said he was "profoundly sorry that MI5 did not prevent the attack."

"I deeply regret that such intelligence was not obtained," he added, noting that "gathering covert intelligence is difficult – but had we managed to seize the slim chance we had, those impacted might not have experienced such appalling loss and trauma," he said in a statement.

Read more: ISIS leader killed in Syrian army operation: Source to SANA

Richard Scorer, a lawyer who represented 11 of the families in the case, described the news as a "devastating conclusion".

"As a result of these failures, at the very least, a real possibility of preventing this attack was lost. This is a devastating conclusion for us," he said.

"The failures exposed in this report are unacceptable."

Read more: Ericsson allocates $220mln for ISIS-related corruption case

  • MI5
  • Manchester
  • UK
  • United Kingdom

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS